The Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Board of Directors has come up with a list of preliminary decisions on how the government-chartered non-profit will handle the sale of M1911 pistols.

With pending legislation mandating the organization receives 8,000-10,000 surplus M1911s from the Army each year for at least the next two years — with as many as 100,000 possibly transferring over time — the group announced Monday in an email some of the guidelines established for their sale to the public.

Warning that grading and pricing of the pistols will take “an estimated 150 days” after they receive the first quantities of the pistols should the legislation be signed into law, CMP advises all laws concerning the sale of the handguns will be “strictly obeyed.”

This means that those interested in buying a 1911 would have to meet all of the standard eligibility guidelines to purchase surplus firearms from the organization — U.S. citizenship, proof of membership in an affiliated club and proof of marksmanship activity — but also forward a copy of their local dealer’s FFL to handle the transfer and a successful NICS check both before the sale is completed with CMP and at the transfer from the dealer. This is different from how the CMP ships rifles, which in most states can be sent directly to the customer.

While it has long been a ritual for Garand and Springfield M1903 enthusiasts to haunt the CMP’s two brick and mortar stores, the group says they will only sell the 1911s through mail order with a date to submit orders announced, “to the world.” Those submitting orders will have their names submitted loaded into a random number generator to be pulled once the 10,000-applicant threshold is met.

When selected, lucky purchasers will be contacted and allowed to choose from “a list of 1911 grades and pricing options that are available.” A similar random draw was used in part to sell a small quantity of M1 Carbines the group put up for grabs in 2016.

To allow as many collectors interested to get their hands on the GI .45s as possible, sales will be limited to one pistol per person, per year. This is a substantial change from the eight per calendar year, per customer, limit recently set on M1 Garand rifle sales.

As for prices, the organization did not make an announcement but Steve Cooper, general manager of CMP North as well as their marketing manager, talked to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Lee Williams and said it’s likely shootable guns will run $800-1000.

“Even though they may be shot out or busted up, we don’t want them falling into the hands of people who will just leave them in a glove box,” said Cooper. “We want a perceived value — more of an heirloom. We don’t want them considered a standard sidearm. All we need is to have someone commit a liquor store robbery with one and then we’ll be held accountable.”

As part of the pending legislation authorizing the transfer and sale of the 1911s, the Army is required to inform Congress on the program’s activities during the two-year pilot program.

In 2015, an Army whitepaper, prompted by the Obama-era Department of Justice, questioned a plan to sell the 1911s to the public, calling them “popular crime guns.”

These pistols to be sold by the DCM have been paid for by the American tax payer and War Bonds. The greed that the DCM will price these pistols will be a crime.
The old CMP would never do that to the American shooter or collector.

Tin Can Sailor
'Nam Vet
NRA Endowment Member
President New Mexico Military Surplus Rifle Pistol Shooters

These pistols to be sold by the DCM have been paid for by the American tax payer and War Bonds. The greed that the DCM will price these pistols will be a crime.
The old CMP would never do that to the American shooter or collector.

Rapidrob, Rapidrob, Rapidrob you should at least do a little research about that before going into a tirade.

The original purpose was to provide civilians an opportunity to learn and practice marksmanship skills so they would be skilled marksmen if later called on to serve in the U.S. military. so this wasn't about just to sell firearms to shooters or collectors, it was about selling rifles so they would learn how to shoot them at the many shooting clubs around the country that was part of the DCM program. that is the reason they were sold "at cost". Over the years the emphasis of the program shifted to focus on youth development through marksmanship.

From 1903 until 1996 the DCM was administered AND ENTIRELY FUNDED BY THE U.S.ARMY, now, keep that mind so you understand the second part of this post.

in the 1996 defense authorization act, the DCM which was part of the Army and funded by the Army was done away with. in it's place was created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice & Firearms Safety (CPRPFS) to take over administration and promotion of the CMP. The CPRPFS is a tax-exempt non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation chartered by the U.S. Congress, but is not an agency of the U.S. government

it still is tasked with all the same responsibilities and programs that the DCM had, except it receives zero funding from the government. got that, ZERO FUNDING. IN OTHER WORDS THEY GET NO MONEY FROM THE GOV'T TO FUND THE PROGRAM so all the money to fund those programs come from the sale of surplus rifles, ammunition etc...

so once again, the sale of surplus rifles isn't what the CMP only does. it promotes the marksman, competitions, with priority to the youth (kids). and how they fund those programs is with the sale of surplus rifles etc..

CMP;
1.To instruct citizens of the United States in marksmanship;
2.To promote practice and safety in the use of firearms;
3.To conduct competitions in the use of firearms and to award trophies, prizes, badges, and other insignia to competitors.

The law specifically states: In carrying out the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the corporation shall give priority to activities that benefit firearms safety, training, and competition for youth and that reach as many youth participants as possible

what has me scratching my head, if your age is correct in your avatar (66), that how could you be so clueless about what the CMP is all about and how they fund those programs.

I have been on numerous gun boards and what I read is a bunch of belly aching sniveling and whining posts, everything from how the CMP is going to conduct the sales of 1911s, to the condition the 1911s will be in, to the prices.

except for what CMP already put out on how the sales are going to go. no one hasn't a fricken clue about anything else beyond that, it's all whinny crying post after post after post. I'm not fingering you out specifically, you're just one of the hundreds I have read that has that same tone.

and I suspect this thread will be no different the other threads on other gun boards.

WHAAAAA, WHAAAAAA, WHAAAAAAAA

if you don't like the condition of the sale, or the rumors of the price and condition of the 1911. fine, don't buy one. no one is going to force you to buy it.

as for me, I will throw my hat in the ring. the CMP will refurbish the pistols just like they have done to all their rifles they sell. and they will be honestly graded as to condition. I'd rather see my money go to a worthy program, and get a 1911, then give my money to some rotted teeth jackhole at a gunshow

Last edited by Ghoulardi on Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.

The CMP is not the DCM, and will likely sell these pistols at prices that are slightly below what one might pay at an online auction. That does not seem unfair to me. I want the CMP to continue to operate, and to do that the CMP has to cover the cost of its operations through sales. As a 501(c)(3), they are not in the business of gouging. If they don't cover costs, they are gone; and who would benefit from that outcome?

I think the process that the CMP proposed is a good one. You have the same chance to buy one 1911 as everyone else. It should limit the questionable practice of buying multiple weapons from CMP and flipping them for profit.

Last edited by dmg4 on Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Thank you for the personal attack.
You were not there when the DCM sold M1 Carbines and 45 pistols for 20 dollars plus shipping. You were not there when the M1 rifles were sold in the 80's for 178 bucks if you were in a NRA affiliated shooting club and met the qualifications to buy a rifle. I was and did buy them.
Once the DCM was replaced by the CMP it all went down hill.
If you were there back then, you would not have made the asinine comments you made above.
If you want to pay jacked up prices be my guest.
The pistols should be priced so shooting clubs and members can buy them and learn to shoot them. They should be limited to family members and individuals who have qualified as competitors in NRA sanctioned matches or passed training courses as it was in the past. You were allowed one firearm per qualified applicant and signed an agreement you were not to sell the firearm for immediate profit.

Tin Can Sailor
'Nam Vet
NRA Endowment Member
President New Mexico Military Surplus Rifle Pistol Shooters

. You were not there when the M1 rifles were sold in the 80's for 178 bucks if you were in a NRA affiliated shooting club and met the qualifications to buy a rifle. I was and did buy them.

in the 80s, I was on my second tour in Germany. so I was around

crap, you're only 5 years older then me. it isn't like you have the market cornered on old age

again you are comparing prices to when the U.S. Army was funding and administrating the program. they could sell those firearms what it cost to make, because they were getting the funding from congress to run the marksmanship program.

now, if you want to turn time back. then write your congressman and have them put a bill in to have the CMP administer by the Army and funded by congress. that's one of your rights, The right to petition government for redress of grievances

If you want to pay jacked up prices be my guest.

now how do you know what the prices will be? you don't , you're just reading far flung rumors.
as for jacked up prices, have you even looked at what prices are for 1911s on the market? you need to look. talk about jacked up prices.

as for "personal attack" I have not attacked you personally

Last edited by Ghoulardi on Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

If the 1911s were not sold through CMP, and they were not destroyed, they'd likely be sold by Century. Buying 1911s by the thousands is only possible by a larger corporation. They would not be inspected, refurbished, and graded to the same standards applied as CMP. They would be handled by the customary practices at Century. Prices charged by CMP are below market value, and the weapons are conservatively graded. We've all seen posts here commenting on CMP Garands received that are far better than expected. My only criticism of the organization is that past policies have allowed abuse in that people with profit as motive buy Garands and flip them on Gunbroker, at gun shows, and in retail stores. That practice is not in line with the mission statement of the CMP. I'm pleased that they have developed a policy to limit abuse of their sales.

Now then boys. It's Christmas. Be nice to each other. You have reason to be happy.

I'm pleased that they have developed a policy to limit abuse of their sales.

That's a fact, Jack!
If you want a pistol that shoots where it's aimed, you buy a new colt, if you want a M1911 military relic reeking in history you buy a CMP 45. One per person through the normal channels makes it fair for most. I still think you can/will be allowed to bid on the auctions for the rare versions/additional rare expensive pistols???? Yes/No
Most of us old timers have more than they want from Uncles and dads that ripped them off prior to discharge some got some home on there own. Marines always have sticky fingers. Then, Pawn shops always had military 45s on the counters back in the late 1970s.

What the military should do is first send/give a fee M1911 to every living Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Airforce Cross, Army Distinguished Cross and Silver Star recipient recognizing their acts of valor performed by the still living vets. Now that would be fantastic, then the others go to the CMP. That indeed would be a perfect Merry Christmas.

To old to fight and to old to run, a Jar head will just shoot and be done with you.

. You were not there when the M1 rifles were sold in the 80's for 178 bucks if you were in a NRA affiliated shooting club and met the qualifications to buy a rifle. I was and did buy them.

in the 80s, I was on my second tour in Germany. so I was around

crap, you're only 5 years older then me. it isn't like you have the market cornered on old age

again you are comparing prices to when the U.S. Army was funding and administrating the program. they could sell those firearms what it cost to make, because they were getting the funding from congress to run the marksmanship program.

now, if you want to turn time back. then write your congressman and have them put a bill in to have the CMP administer by the Army and funded by congress. that's one of your rights, The right to petition government for redress of grievances

If you want to pay jacked up prices be my guest.

now how do you know what the prices will be? you don't , you're just reading far flung rumors.
as for jacked up prices, have you even looked at what prices are for 1911s on the market? you need to look. talk about jacked up prices.

Civilian Marksmanship Program Update on Garand Rifles and 1911 Pistols

1/27/2018

The Civilian Marksmanship Program had a booth at the 2018 SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range. In this video Gina Johnson, General Manager of CMP South, provides us with an update on the status of the M1 Garand rifles from the Philippines, other incoming Garands, and the 1911 pistols expected to be turned over to the CMP by the U.S. Army.

It will be interesting to see how many salvageable rifles they get from the Philippines. I spent 3 years there in the AF and metal and wood don't last well in that climate. Plus the fact that the Philippine military was not known for for their meticulous care of firearms.

It will be interesting to see how many salvageable rifles they get from the Philippines. I spent 3 years there in the AF and metal and wood don't last well in that climate. Plus the fact that the Philippine military was not known for for their meticulous care of firearms.

Ernest T,

I agree that the environment in the Philippines is brutal ( from what I saw ). I hope the Garand's look better than this one brought back from the Pacific!!! LOL